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Alexander Supertramp…A Follow-Up

I’m about to have my one year blog-aversary, if you will, and I thought I’d mark it with a follow up to the most popular post, hands down, in the one year history of this blog. This one, about Chris McCandless, aka Alexander Supertramp.

This story has extraordinary staying power, for a lot of reasons. It appeals to the spirit of wanderlust in all of us, the thrill of leaving the system behind and doing what you want, and it also has a tragic ending to boot. With pictures. It’s also interesting that fame has been posthumously cast onto a guy that probably never would have wanted it, a guy that, during his 2 year sojourn, didn’t tell anyone his real name.

It also helps that he was a good looking kid.

I still get about 2 or3 heartfelt comments a week on that post, now almost six months old. That’s pretty unusual, at least for me. When I wrote it, I was only commenting on the episode of “Iconoclasts” I’d seen on TV. I’ve since read John Krakauer’s book, and I hate to say, seen Sean Penn’s film adaptation. As much as I loathe Sean Penn, I will say he did an outstanding job adapting Krakauer’s book. He’s still a world class douchebag, but credit where credit is due.

In hindsight, there’s not really a political slant to the story. It is what it is. I wouldn’t call Chris a liberal now, in fact, I don’t think he had a specific political leaning at all. Like his own brief life, his politics were all over the map. It’s the rest of us that project politics onto him, myself included.

It’s hard to not like Chris McCandless, even if you think he was an idiot. There’s just something about his story that makes you hope it’ll turn out alright, even though you know it doesn’t. His beaming smile and enthusiasm for adventure are contagious, and that makes his tragic end all the more compelling.

I haven’t seen the movie, and didn’t know the story. I’m reading it now, (but I won’t all at one sitting). It seems like such a waste. I wonder if my husband knows about this guy? He’s in to hiking, and reads Adventure magazine, etc. He appreciates stories like this one.

Anyhoo…Happy one year blogiversary. Mine is coming up too. I like your idea of sharing your top posts.

I agree Krakauer’s book was/is an outstanding read. The thing that struck me about this young man, was his inability to realize that that we humans are a part of nature, too. In one sense, the rice, .22 rifle, his clothes, etc. are “natural” in the same way a beehive or beaver dam is. The only difference is the we humans are the only species which lug around a moral backpack which is filled with our concerns about Nature. I wonder whether he came to that knowledge, himself, although his journals make no mention of it.

R.Sherman- Yeah, Chris’s journals were sparse at best, I wouldn’t even call what he wrote down “Journals.” They were more like notes, so we’re left to try to piece together what he was actually thinking.

Tony LaVanwaysaid

RoHiTsaid

Hey..!!
The 1993 Article of Krakauer’s is just amazing after seeing the movie…!!
Thanks a lot 4 that..
I hate to ask but could u guide me how to get the Novel INTO THE WILD Online…???
I want an E-Book… or any such thing… i desperately wanna read that inspiring novel… plzzzz

…..I haven’t read any of the other comments, just your posting. A.S. is an Icon now….only to be ridiculed sortof by a man of strength statute and forethought. Evan Tanner….blogged about the fact he wasn’t on an A.S. expedition…he just needed to find “peace”….he went “prepared” into the desert in Sept 08 and died anyway of 112 degree heat…..now we have one from the heat and one from the true wilderness of Alaska. Good writing my friend. kudos…peace out gm

micksaid

elizawaysaid

Alex Supertramp reminded me of my little brother, nature-loving, non-materialist, so I felt punched in the gut -huge!- when I got to the end of the movie…and he was not rescued at the last minute. I loved Krakauer’s book, too, mostly for the other solitude-seekers he profiles. I read parts of it to my 3 sons (aged 13 and under), b/c I want them to know that one “little” mistake can kill you when it comes to surviving in the wild. I was struck by the account of McCunn planning his photo-trip into the Brooks Range, AK, planned it for a whole year as I recall, but somehow failed to arrange for the plane to come back to retrieve him in August. He also died out there in the wild. Wow. I admire these adventurers, b/c there’s so little space anymore to freely adventure in…but have someone else check your plans, so you can make it back safely!

Soulsaid

Alex seem to know the world.around.him very well, I think he could judge.the.things around.him in a sence of justic and rights. N..the.soul perpose of what the.human.being is.purely on this.earth.for…i.think chris death.is.more.of an inspiratiom than tragity…when someone truely.speaks from the heart of.the.soul.and.then.finds where.it.wants.to.be you cant do much more but.mother nature.take.her course, I bivev that alex was speaking from the.core.when.he.planned.this.journey I.dont.think he.knew that the journey would.b his.fate… But alex is.truely.inspiring that is.for.sure…..pitty ge.didnt.take.me.with him 😦